labyrinthine

adjective

ˌla-bə-ˈrin(t)-thən How to pronounce labyrinthine (audio)
Definition of labyrinthinenext
as in intricate
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated labyrinthine politics that left us totally befuddled

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of labyrinthine Tubi Inside Man (2006) Spike Lee’s labyrinthine thriller stars Denzel Washington as a hostage negotiator and Clive Owen as a bank robber holding customers hostage in a tony Manhattan branch. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026 The tête-a-tête between Jack and Nora gets tedious pretty quickly, while as counterparts, Dani, Chad and Bianca are just not smart, sympathetic or interesting enough to sustain our interest in this labyrinthine plot. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 As the forensic pressure mounted in 2025, King’s defense became technical, even labyrinthine. — Tommy Orange, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 Martinelli’s case, similar to the whispers that have emerged this week around Lewis-Skelly, is an example of moving parts within a labyrinthine beast of a transfer system. — Kaya Kaynak, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for labyrinthine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for labyrinthine
  1. intricate
  2. complicated
  3. complicate
  4. complex
  5. sophisticated
Adjective
  • The process was particularly intricate, as each interlacing detail on the bodice had to be carefully constructed by weaving hundreds of meters of rouleau and while maintaining the tension and precision of the corsetry underneath.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Dedicated to the god Amun, it is known for its beautiful pillars and intricate carvings.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of intricate
Adjective
  • Sports cars are getting bigger, heavier, and more complicated.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The mental load of harder cases As AI takes on routine tasks, human agents may be left dealing with a greater share of complicated cases — and be required to pick up the slack when the technology fails.
    — Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of complicated
Adjective
  • The company very deliberately targets large enterprise customers, which have the biggest and most complicate supply chain ecosystems.
    — David Prosser, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Wilcox noted that overlaps between substance use and suicide complicate reduction efforts.
    — Danielle J. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
Definition of complicate
Adjective
  • Some also called for a reform of the university admissions system, seen by many as complex and unfair.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Survivorship care is designed to identify and address the complex needs of a cancer survivor beyond just the physical changes.
    — Marci Lee Nilsen, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of complex
Adjective
  • The project also reflects the increasing importance of reliable manufacturing capacity in industries that depend on sophisticated electronic, sensing and space-related technologies.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Soviets and their allies might have sophisticated weaponry and boundless barbarity.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of sophisticated

Browse Nearby Words

labyrinthian
labyrinthine
labyrinths
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Labyrinthine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/labyrinthine. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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